The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is finally here. After months of build-up, games are finally underway in stadiums across co-host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States. This year promises to be the biggest edition of the tournament ever, with a 48 teams competing in 104 games across 39 beautiful days of football.
This is the first World Cup that South Africa have qualified for since having the honour of hosting the tournament in 2010, and fans couldn’t be more excited to once again see Bafana Bafana take to the field at football’s biggest stage. Meanwhile, Jackpot City has special offers available for those wanting to back all the action.
There are watch parties across Johannesburg, with FIFA Fan Park at the Mall of Thembisa holding events throughout the tournament. Many venues are hosting their own events too, both for South Africa’s group games and the tournament’s other big matches.
If you’re thinking of heading to a World Cup watch party, these are three things to keep in mind.
Find out the ticket and table situation beforehand
There will be no shortage of venues offering viewing parties around Johannesburg and beyond, but they are all running things slightly differently. Some are on a first come, first served basis. Others require a free booking to ensure entry, but still no table reservations, while others need a paid ticket to get a seat.
It’s easy to secure a booking to watch South Africa at the World Cup, with all the venues and watch zones that require booking letting you do it easily via apps such as Howler or Dineplan. Just make sure to check beforehand; there’s nothing worse than needing to scramble to find a new place to watch because you don’t have a ticket for a venue, or turning up hours before the game to claim a table when your seat is already guaranteed.
See what extras are being held
While some watch events in Johannesburg are focused on simply providing big screens, others are more geared towards offering a festival atmosphere. This includes food options, drink packages, live music, and more. Others are put on by the team’s sponsors, meaning there are more promotional extras included.
When you’re looking for a place to watch Bafana Bafana, think about what kind of experience you’re after. If you’re looking to focus on the game then a smaller venue where you can book a table might be best. For a festival atmosphere, one of the larger viewing zones around the city may be a better option.
Check the kick off time
With the 2026 World Cup being held across North America, there can sometimes be a significant time difference to South Africa. The first two group games are thankfully unaffected, but Bafana Bafana’s final group match against South Korea will be harder to find an event for.
This game is being held in Monterrey, Mexico, and kicks off at 3am on Thursday 25th June. With the fixture being held overnight, many of the larger public watch zones won’t be open. This means fans will need to look for a local late-night venue if they want to watch it with a crowd.
Although this isn’t ideal, the atmosphere should still be worth the effort. The new World Cup format is being used this year, where the eight best third placed teams progress to the knockout phase, and ensures that South Africa’s qualification chances will still be alive.